Adjustable bottle gripper for bottle filling machines



Nov. 5, 1963 J. c. NORWOOD 3,109,535

ADJUSTABLE BOTTLE GRIPPER FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

72 V i v VA 62 33. 60

- INVENTOR. L. 5 JAMES C, NORWOOD E5 gaxwwj A 7' TOBNE Y NOV. 5, 1963 Q NORWQQD 3,109,535

ADJUSTABLE BOTTLE GRIPPER F'OR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES C. NORWOOD A TTOBNEY Nov. 5, 1963 J. c. NORWOOD ,1

ADJUSTABLE BOTTLE GRIPPER FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JAMES c. NORWOOD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,109,535 ADJUSTABLE BOTTLE GRIPPER FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES James C. Norwood, 6700 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,526 10 Claims. (Cl. 198211) This invention relates to a container holder for a filling machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a holder for a bottle, jar, can or other container while being filled in an automatic filling machine.

Another object is to provide a container holder having adjustable gripper fingers for engaging containers of various sizes.

It has been known heretofore to provide a container filling machine with a turntable on which the open containers are mounted in spaced positions around the turntable. The containers may be placed on the turntable manually, but in fully automatic machines the containers are placed on the turntable and removed therefrom by means of endless chain belts or other devices. A particular difiiculty has been encountered in providing suitable devices for holding the containers upright and in fixed positions while the turntable is in motion and while the containers are being filled. Various gripping devices have been proposed but have not proven wholly satisfactory because of rapid wear, tendency to warp, crack and deteriorate under constant use, nonadjustability for containers of dilferent sizes, etc. When the prior container holders were made of molded rubber, the material deteriorated rapidly in use and could not be repaired. The present invention avoids the difficulties and disadvantages of prior container holders in filling machines, and afior-ds improvements in durability and adjustability, in addition to being repairable.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of part of a turntable of a container filling machine, with a plurality of container holders embodying the invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a container holder per se.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container holder.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the container holder.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container holder.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are top plan views similar to FIG. 5, of the container holder with gripper fingers shown in different positions.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the container holder.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of container holders 10 mounted in equally spaced fixed positions around the periphery of a circular turntable 12', only part of which is shown. Each cont ainer holder includes a massive metal flat base plate 14- having a rounded end 16 disposed adjacent to the rim of the turntable and a flat end 18 facing radially inward of the turntable. The base plate has a depending foot 20 which is polygonal in shape; see FIGS. 2-5. This foot fits into a corresponding groove (not shown) in the turntable to secure the container holder non-rotatably on the 3,10%,535 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 turntable. Countersunk holes 24 are provided at corners of the base plate to receive bolts 25 screwed into aligned holes in the turntable. A groove 26 is formed in the outer rounded end 16 of the base plate. A rectangular post 28 is fitted into groove 26 and extends vertically upward therefrom. The post is shown in each of FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 9.

Post 28 has a hole 30 near its bottom end. Through this hole extends the shank 31 of a bolt 32 which is screwed into a threaded hole formed inside groove 26; see FIG. 6. A washer 34 is disposed between the head of the bolt and the rear or outer side of the post.

On post 28 is an upwardly extended boss 35 having an axial threaded hole 36. This boss extends upwardly through registering holes '37 and 38 formed in overlapping ends 40, 42 of two arms 44, 46. Arm 44 is longer than arm 46. Ann 44 at end is recessed to provide a circularly curved arcuate wall 47. The end 42 of arm 46 has a rounded edge 48 which fits rotatably in abutment with wall 47. The arms 44 and 46 are angularly adjustable with respect to each other in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the post 28. In order to secure the arms in any selected angular disposition, there is provided a washer 56 having a serrated bottom side 51 which bears on the top of arm end 42 while the head of bolt 52 bears on the washer and the shank 55 of the bolt screwed tightly in the threaded hole 36 of the post.

Arms 44 and 46 have flat forwardly facing sides 56, 58. In side 56 near its other end 57 is formed a recess 59. This recess receives one end 81 of a generally cylindrical plastic finger 60. In side 58 of arm 46 near its outer end 61 is a recess 62 which receives one end 81 of another generally cylindrical plastic finger 64. Holes 66, 68 are formed in the outer ends of the arms. Through these holes are inserted shanks of bolts 70, 72. The bolt shanks are screwed into threaded holes 75 formed in the ends of the fingers engaged in recesses 59, 62.

The fingers 60, '64 have curved recesses 77 77 formed intermediate their ends. These recesses oppose each other and cooperate in engaging the body of a bottle, jar, can or other container C as indicated in FIG. 3. The fingers have tapered, wedge-shaped ends 80*, 89 which cooperate in facilitating the insertion of a container body between the fingers. The fingers are slightly flexible and preferably made of a smooth, self-lubricating type of plastic such as nylon, polyethylene, or the like. Fingers made of these materials resist deterioration by contact with acids, alkalies and other stroing chemical reagents. They are readily washed and wiped clean and do not absorb odors or contaminating substances. They are preferred for use in beverage filling machines because they can. be easily sterilized by boiling water and steam Without deterioration or loss in strength or flexibility.

The structural arrangement of the container holder is such that the fingers can be oriented any required distances D, D' or D" indicated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8. In FIG. 5 the fingers are substantially parallel and arms 44-, 46 define a straight cross member supporting the fingers. In FIG. 7 the fingers flare outwardly and in FIG. 8 the fingers taper inwardly. The fingers are held nonrotatably by the bolts 70, 72. The outer ends 81 31 of the fingers can be formed with recesses 83 to define ridges 84 which engage abutments 85 formed at the sides of recesses 59, 62.

FIG. 9 shows the several parts of the holder 1% above described. It will be noted that all parts are removable for individual cleaning, repair or replacement. Once assembled, the parts form a unitary structure. I any part should need replacement, it is not necessary to replace the whole assembly or even a major portion thereof as in prior known container holders for filling machines.

The holders are arranged so that a container body can easily be slipped in between the fingers and will be on gaged securely in the opposing recesses 77*, 77 while the turntable rotates to a filling position with the empty container and then rotates away from the filling position after the container is filled.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred em bodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate.

2. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end'of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, said fingers being formed with opposing recesses to receive said container body therebetween.

3. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, said fingers being formed with opposing recesses intermediate the ends of the fingers to engage said container body therebetween, each finger having a Wedge-shaped other end, said other ends of the fingers flaring outwardly and facing each other to facilitate insertion of the container body between the fingers into engagement with said recesses.

4. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured atone end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, a bolt having a head and a threaded shank, said post having a threaded hole at its upper end receiving said threaded shank, and a washer having a serrated side interposed between the head of the bolt and said one end of one of the arms to hold the same immov- I able, said bolt being removable to permit relative angular adjustment of the arms and fingers to receive container bodies of different sizes.

5. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible genenally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, said post having a cylindrical boss at its upper end with a threaded axial hole in said boss, the overlapped ends of the arms having registering holes receiving said boss, a bolt having a head and a threaded shank, and a washer interposed between the head of the bolt and the upper one of the overlapped ends of the arms to hold the same immovable while the threaded shank is seated in the threaded axial hole in said boss.

6. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of flatarms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, said post having a cylindrical boss at its upper end with a threaded axial hole in said boss, the overlapped ends of the arms having registering holes receiving said boss, a bolt having a head and a threaded sh ank, and a washer interposed between the head of the bolt and upper one of the overlapped ends of the arms to hold the same immovable while the threaded shank is seated in the threaded axial hole in said boss, said fingers being formed with opposing recesses to receive said container body therebetween.

7. A container holder fora filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a

pair of flat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible genera-11y cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, a bolt having a head and a threaded shank, said post having a threaded hole at its upper end receiving said threaded shank, and

a washer having a serrated side interposed between the head of the bolt and said one end of one of the arms to hold the same immovable, said bolt being removable to permit relative angular adjustment of the arms and fingers being formed with opposing recesses intermediate the ends of the fingers to engage said container body therebetween, each finger having a wedge-shaped other end, said other ends of the fingers flaring outwardly and facing each other to facilitate insertion of the container body between the fingers into engagement with said recesses.

8. A container holder for a filling machine having a horizontal turntable, comprising a base plate having means for securing said base plate horizontally on said turntable, a post secured at one end to said base plate and extending upwardly perpendicularly to the base plate, a pair of fiat arms detachably secured at one end in overlapping relationship to the other end of the post, a first flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of one of the arms, a second flexible generally cylindrical plastic finger detachably secured at one end to the other end of the other arm, said arms holding the fingers horizontally parallel to and extending over the base plate to hold a container body between the fingers on the base plate, said fingers being formed with opposing recesses intermediate the ends of the fingers to engage said container body therebetween, each finger having a wedge-shaped other end, said other ends of the fingers flaring outwardly and facing each other to facilitate insertion of the container body between the fingers into engagement with said recesses, said post having a cylindrical boss at its upper end with a threaded axial hole in said boss, the overlapped ends of the arms having registering holes receiving said boss, a bolt having a head and a threaded shank, and a washer interposed between the head of the bolt and the upper one of the overlapped ends of the arms to hold the same immovable while the threaded shank is seated in the threaded axial hole in said boss.

9. A container holder for a filling machine, comprising a base plate, a post extending upwardly from the base plate, a pair of arms, means removably holding the arms on the post extending outwardly from the post, one of said arms having an end of reduced thickness and an arcuate upstanding Wall, the other of said arms having an end disposed on the end of the one arm in contact with said wall, said arms being angularly adjustable with respect to each other on the post, and cylindrical, flexible plastic fingers removably and non-rotatably secured to other ends of the arms and extending outwardly therefrom over the base plate.

10. A container holder for a filling machine, comprising a base plate, a post extending upwardly from the base plate, a pair of arms, means removably holding the arms on the post extending outwardly from the post, one of said arms having an end of reduced thickness and an arcuate upstanding wail, the other of said arms having an end disposed on the end of the one arm in contact with said wall, said arms being angularly adjustable with respect to each other on the post, and cylindrical, flexible plastic fingers removably and non-rotetably secured to other ends of the arms and extending outwardly therefrom over the base plate, said fingers being formed with opposing recesses intermediate the ends of the fingers to engage said container body therebetween, each finger having a wedgeshaped other end, said other ends of the fingers flaring outwardly and facing each other to facilitate insertion of the container body between the fingers into engagement with said recesses.

No references cited. 

1. A CONTAINER HOLDER FOR A FILLING MACHINE HAVING A HORIZONTAL TURNTABLE, COMPRISING A BASE PLATE HAVING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BASE PLATE HORIZONTALLY ON SAID TURNTABLE, A POST SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID BASE PLATE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY PERPENDICULARLY TO THE BASE PLATE, A PAIR OF FLAT ARMS DETACHABLY SECURED AT ONE END IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHER END OF THE POST, A FIRST FLEXIBLE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PLASTIC FINGER DETACHABLY SECURED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF ONE OF THE ARMS, A SECOND FLEXIBLE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PLASTIC FINGER DETACHABLY SECURED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE OTHER ARM, SAID ARMS HOLDING THE FINGERS HORIZONTALLY PARALLEL TO AND EXTENDING OVER THE BASE PLATE TO HOLD A CONTAINER BODY BETWEEN THE FINGERS ON THE BASE PLATE. 